By Phillip Mubanga
The vaccine for novel coronavirus may be developed and be widely and safely available by 2021 or more, researchers have revealed.
Further for populations to develop sufficient natural immunity to slow the spread of the virus it could take up to two years according to Experts.
Most countries are beginning to realise that they cannot afford to wait in lockdown. This leaves us with no option but to walk the tightrope of finding strict measures that can facilitate survival through this duration the same way nations survived Ebola, SARS and HIV/AIDS…
To avoid serious economic and social devastations that can lead to a food security crisis there is need to consider careFULLY adjusting, lifting and relaxing some measures.
Measures such as mandatory quarantine of up to 14days after undergoing health screening upon entry into Zambia and physical/ social distancing including wearing of masks and washing of hands MUST continue until Covid19 is contained globally.
when and where should these measures be relaxed?
In provinces that have gone months until now without finding a single case of COVID-19 measures could be relaxed with immediate effect.
While for Lusaka province and Kabwe town, as soon as reported data begins to suggest the curve is flattening, with case numbers declining from their peak measures can be relaxed.
We can reopen economies in stages with schools, workers returning to work and churches a priority: restaurants should continue to operate on take away basis while adding other social venues like bars on same basis.
Kindergartens, high schools and colleges should reopen gradually..
We must act slowly, potentially waiting a month between each new step and ready to reverse quickly if infections start to spread again quickly.
There are no best practices established for timing or sequencing. We have to play by ear because there is no gold standard on how to do it.
We must continue to listen very carefully to experts and looking very carefully at what is working and has worked in other jurisdictions, and seeing how and if that can be adapted in Zambia
Austria reopened some non-core businesses on Tuesday. Denmark has allowed children to return to school. And Spain has allowed the return of construction workers and factories, although a national blockade remains in effect.
The conclusion of the matter is we are faced with a precarious balance, a potentially deadly misstep where we need to weigh the costs to the economy, mental health,education against peak potential of Covid19. Zambia must walk a tightrope and carefully begin to reopen economies in stages, acting slowly between each new step.
Who is this guy?? He has put up some extremely good points which must be put into context.
the story of vaccines in adults in a controversial issue. But understanding what we know about the science of diseases is important and the role of the human body in protecting itself is more important. yes the President should relax the measures on covid-19. it has come and it will pass.
manje…..!
Relaxing what measures? You mean re-opening schools and allowing pubs, restaurants and gyms to operate? Hotels will remain closed as long as tourists/visitors are not travelling. The few manufacturing companies in the country have been operational during this period. The reduced activity and traffic in Lusaka confirms that the majority of our workforce is in the service industry or are engaged in non value addition activities (GRZ), we have no solid economic base any more.
I will not risk my child taking her to school at this stage……it is very dangerous and unwise.
Bars and restaurants should not open. We have the option of eating and drinking from home.
Churches should NOT open…We have an option of praying fro home and watching sermons on TV and on our smart phones.
Manufacturing companies and construction companies should be fully opened.
Buses must run but passengers must have face masks.
The culture of shakig hands MUST disappear from the face of the earth for ever.
Continue with social distancing. It has brought sanity on queuing .
how about overcrowding on public buses? Talk about social distancing…my foot!
No
I agree. Some provinces which have not recorded any covid infections can open. Open schools in Muchinga, Luapula, Northern, North Western, Western and Eastern provinces for instance but don’t import students from Lusaka, Central and Copperbelt. Tell civil servants to go to work. Open the shops and other businesses. Let the far flang places be economically active.
In Zambia opening churches as per your suggestion is very dangerous. Night clubs and bars are even less dangerous. Zambian churches has a high attendance rate you are talking of hundreds of members per service.How do you keep them to observe social distances?. Second data from testing not reliable and the sample sizes are to small. We need to use our own system if we are to keep everyone safe centred on our way of life.The current orders serve developed countries best because of culture lifestyle and education levels. How do you keep social distances in market and compounds?
Spot on!
At least Churches should be allowed to meet for just one hour as was suggested at the very beginning when this pandemic reached this part of the world. Churches can reduce the numbers in attendance by placing seats or benches two meters apart. They may even create more space by placing chairs outside observing the same rule of two meters apart. Those churches that can afford face masks for their members should do so. Hand washing facilities should be placed at each and every point of entry. We are a christian nation and lets no incapacitate the Church completely playing the hands of the devil. Churches with more members can even have two or three services per Sunday. There is a big difference praying alone, watching on television as compared to attending actual fellowship. Our God…
Talk of examination classes should reopen, voter regestration should comence online this is just my opnion, i can now wait for those silly coments from upnd diasporians.
Mr Mubanga, the prescription you have stated is a big debate in the western world where Covid-19 pandemic has had huge repercussions both to the health and economy sectors. Steps taken by almost all the countries in the world is to shut down almost all industries exceptional to food and health industries. When its said ‘Shut Down’, its total stay at home and everything is under lock down. It is with this background your prescription has some relevance. Nothing of that sort has taken place in Zambia, so its a misplaced prescription and Zambia hasn’t got the capacity to master that approach.
We are in a partial lockdown and yet the cases of Covid 19 are still increasing. This means that we are no where near winning this battle and we should not even be thinking about relaxing at this stage. Look at South Africa, they started with two cases and now about 4000 cases have been reported. Just today, South Africa recommended 300+ cases.
At this stage, we should be more concerned about encouraging all Zambians to get tested so that we know how wide spread this pandemic is. It is after establishing this that we can start thinking on how to open all businesses and Churches.
The bottom line is that our ways of doing things will have to change now. We may have to look at possibilities of cashless transactions and perhaps online buying. We might as well consider tele-evangelising…
We might as well consider tele-evangelising because in Churches they might be need to disinfect benches and chairs after each Church services.
There is no easy solution to this pandemic in as much as the vaccine is not found.
I really didn’t know that there were that many ignorant and heartless Zambians, until I read this article and some comments above. Yes the economy needs thrive and the country reopened. Bars and churches should remain shut. Too many Zambians are drunk with religion and alcohol. Not drunk with Christ or the Holy Spirit we should always be. Industries with PPEs should be reopened and the governments technocrats should for once show their mettle. Lets squab the pandemic first though.
* Drunk with the Christ and the Holy Spirit as we should always be. Is what I meant.
Other provincies may have recorded zero cases perhaps because of zero tests.
As we have increased tests conducted in lusaka , more cases are mainifesting meaning that we have a lot of undetected infections countrywide .
There is no need to rush opening bars , churches and schools when we are having more cases reported.
What we need is an intesnsified testing programe across the country .
A school cademic year lost, a church sermon or event missed or a beer drinking session lost can be recovered but you can not recover a lost life.
For now its got to be more testing, testing ,testing.
What are you talking about? Which curves will flatten and where? You are joking bwana. The cases haven’t even peaked and you are talking about the reopening of the economy and some other activities. How are you going to stop the infections when people from affected countries continue their business as usual? Get it from me, the country is yet to experience one of the most terrible times IF things continue in a business as usual manner